By JON WEBB
RICHMOND — After trailing by 17 points at the half, the Scotties needed a minor miracle to have a chance.
They almost got it.
Glasgow outscored DeSales 33-16 in the third and fourth quarters to force overtime in Saturday’s semifinal game at the state All “A” Classic. But the Colts ceased the Scottie stampede in overtime to survive 67-58.
“It happens in basketball, and this has been around for a long time, that the team that has to fight and crawl their way back into it has a little bit of a let down once the overtime starts,” Glasgow head coach Jeff Hall said. “But I couldn’t fault my players for what they laid out on the floor.”
Cameron Hall and Kerrington Bradley laid out nearly everything. Hall put up 33, while Bradley pitched in 15 points and nine rebounds on the game to help the Scotties force overtime.
An improved defensive effort assisted the Scotties in the third and fourth quarters as well. DeSales shot 48 percent from the floor in the first half, including 53 percent from outside, but the Glasgow defense held the Colts to just 18 percent shooting in the second.
The Scotties were the ones struggling in the first half.
DeSales’ Derek Thornberry opened the game with a three-pointer and Rick Roush added a field goal seconds later, but scores from Bradley and Hall brought Glasgow within one at 5-4.
The Colts didn’t let the Scotties hang around long. DeSales embarked on an 8-0 run beginning at the 5:29 mark of the first and held Glasgow scoreless for nearly five minutes until a Parker Cash free throw wetted the drought.
Hall followed the Cash free throw with a score of his own, but another DeSales three-pointer provided the Colts a 16-7 lead at the end of one.
DeSales opened the second quarter with five unanswered to stretch its advantage to 14.
That advantage continued to stretch in the second. The Colts defense shutdown every Scottie but Hall, forcing the senior point guard to beat them by himself. Hall responded with 13 second-quarter points. Despite Hall’s performance, DeSales still went into the locker room with a commanding 37-20 lead.
Hall dominated the Scottie offense in the first half, putting up 17 of the team’s 20 points. In the second half, it was Bradley’s turn.
The sophomore converted a three-point play just 12 seconds into the half to reduce the DeSales lead to 14. The Colts responded with a pair of free throws, but two Bradley field goals, a score from Hall and a Cash free throw cut the DeSales lead to 39-30 with 3:32 remaining in the third. It was the first time the Scotties had been within single digits since late in the first quarter.
The Colts’ lead vanished in the fourth.
By the 4:27 mark, the Scotties saw themselves within six points. A Hall three-point play and Michael Bradley layup cut the lead to one at 47-46. Less than a minute later, two Hall free throws provided the Scotties with their first lead of the night.
DeSales scored the next four points to go ahead 51-48 with less than a minute remaining.
And then Dean Glass finally broke free.
The senior ran through a bevy of screens to earn an open look at the top of the key. Glass nailed the long three-pointer to tie the game at 51-51.
DeSales responded with free throws, but Kerrington Bradley had his own response, scoring with three seconds to go. The basket would go on to force overtime and provide the Scotties a chance.
“After we tied it up, I called a timeout because I didn’t want our defense in disarray,” coach Hall said. “I told our kids (in the huddle) ‘let’s not let all this effort go to waste’.”
The Colts’ effort won out in the end, as DeSales outscored Glasgow 14-5 in the extra period to advance to the All “A” championship game.
There they lost Sunday to the state’s No. 7 ranked team, Shelby Valley, 46-37.
Despite Glasgow’s loss, Hall said his team didn’t exit emptyhanded.
“I’ve said all along that the Class A falls in a good time in our schedule,” he said. “It’s a great prep for the district tournament, with the quality of teams you have to play and how you have to adapt to different styles of play.
“I’m a staunch supporter of this tournament.”
Hall and Bradley were the only Scotties in double figures. Michael Bradley added five points and 11 rebounds.
The Scotties will return to regular season play when they travel to Monroe County on Tuesday for a 15th District contest.
The Box
Glasgow
Name Points Rebs
Cameron Hall 33 5
Kerrington Bradley 15 9
Michael Bradley 5 11
Dean Glass 3 2
Parker Cash 2 4
Hunter Bowles 0 2
Andrew Wade 0 2
DeSales
Name Points Rebs
Derek Thornberry 20 2
Brandon Ritchie 17 6
Brandon Brooks 9 1
Rick Roush 8 7
Corbin Maynard 6 5
